U.S. Commerce Department Brings on Former Clinton Administration Official and Senior Microsoft Manager to Lead Policy Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, June 1, 2011CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS202-482-4883

The U.S. Commerce Department today announced that Malcolm R. Lee will be joining
the agency as Counselor to the Secretary and Director of the Office of Policy
and Strategic Planning. In this position, he will be the lead policy advisor to
the Secretary and manage department-wide policy initiatives and strategic
planning, in support of President Obama’s efforts to support job creation and
business growth through aggressive trade promotion, enhancing U.S.
competitiveness and fostering innovation.

Prior to joining
Commerce, Lee was General Manager for Policy, Strategy and Corporate Affairs at
Microsoft China in Beijing, where he led a policy, regulatory, government and
community affairs team responsible for positioning the company to compete
effectively in China. Lee served in the Clinton administration, where he was
the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and U.S. Coordinator for International
Communications and Information Policy (2000-2001), Director and Special
Assistant to the President for International Trade and Economic Policy at the
National Economic Council (1996-2000) and Special Assistant to the Under
Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs (1993-1996). He staffed
President Clinton in multiple meetings with heads of state and on visits to
China, Japan and South Korea. With extensive experience in both the public and
private sector, Lee is an expert on issues related to competitiveness,
innovation, trade promotion, intellectual property protection and U.S.-China
relations.

“Malcolm’s
record and success in government and the private sector, along with his
international experience, give him instant credibility and a deep understanding
of the issues businesses face working to grow and create jobs,” U.S. Commerce
Secretary Gary Locke said. “His leadership will be critical as we work to
promote U.S. exports and help American businesses become more innovative at home
and competitive abroad.”

Lee is also an
elected governor of the American Chamber of Commerce China and a board member of
USITO, an association representing the U.S. technology industry in China. He
received his B.A. cum laude from Yale College and his J.D. from the
University of Pennsylvania School of Law.